Courses are made available in Blackboard the first day the course is scheduled to begin. Once you have access to your course in Blackboard you will see the full length syllabus and course requirements.

Courses are made available the first day the course is scheduled to begin. Once the course is available in Blackboard it will be listed under “My Courses” on the main Blackboard page. If the course does not show under “My Courses” on the start date of your course, contact the instructor or call the NOVA Online Hotline at (703) 323-3347 or (888) 4DL-NVCC.

Complete and submit the first assignment.

Set up a schedule and stick to it.

Contact your instructor if you have questions, need assistance, need to withdraw from the course after your Last Withdrawal Date or request an extension on an assignment.

Thousands of NOVA Online students have been successful, and you can be, too. Because there are few or no classes to attend, YOU are responsible for directing your learning. The following are a few suggestions to help you succeed in your course:

Start as soon as your course begins.

Spend 2 to 3 hours per course credit per week studying for each course. A three-credit course requires 6 to 9 hours a week.

Establish a routine and stick with it throughout the semester. Schedule your study time like you would with on-campus courses. Set aside time each week to work on your assignments.

Back up your work! Establish a plan to back up assignments so you do not lose your work throughout the semester.

If you have questions, contact your instructor right away. Your instructor's contact information is in your course Syllabus.

Read the course material immediately so that you know what assignments are required and what time frame you have in which to complete them.